A panel of news leaders will explore how local media outlets are adapting to serve the Akron area and responsibly navigate and mitigate the effects of polarization within their communities.

Don't miss your chance to engage in this crucial conversation about the future of local news co-hosted by the Akron Press Club and the Akron Roundtable. Featuring panelists from Ideastream Public Media, Akron Beacon Journal/Beaconjournal.com and Signal Akron, the panel will be moderated by Mizell Stewart III, professional-in-residence at Kent State University School of Media and Journalism. This is an excellent opportunity to gain insights from leaders in the field and to participate in a Q&A session with the panelists. 

About the topic:

Local news is an industry in transition, driven by changes in economics, technology, and consumer preferences. Our panel of news leaders will explore how local media outlets are adapting to serve the Akron area and responsibly navigate and mitigate the effects of polarization within their communities. 

Event Details:

REGISTER HERE
Or contact Morgan Shaw, Press Club Administrator, at akronpressclub@gmail.com

Topic: Press Club and Akron Roundtable Present State of Greater Akron Media
Date: Tuesday, August 6, 2024
Time: Doors open at 11 a.m. for a buffet luncheon. Program begins at noon
Place: Quaker Station, 135 S. Broadway, Akron, Ohio
Cost: $35 per individual. $280 for a table of 8
Reservation Deadline: Noon, Thursday, August 1, 2024
Cancellation Policy: Requests must be received no later than 48 hours before the event. After that time, no refunds will be issued, and an invoice will be provided for payment.

Attendees can:
  • Learn about media's role in the local community and how it affects public perception and engagement.
  • Gain a better understanding of the local media landscape and its audience.
  • Network with media leaders to strengthen public relations efforts and collaboration.
     
Moderator:


Mizell Stewart III
Professional-in-residence, Kent State University School of Media and Journalism, and President and CEO of Emerging Leaders, LLC.

About the Panelists:


Andrew Meyer
Deputy Editor/News, Ideastream Public Media

Andrew Meyer joined Ideastream Public Media following its 2021 merger with WKSU. As of August 2022, he serves as Deputy Editor - News, where he oversees daily and long-term news coverage and edits for both on-air and online content. With a commitment to fostering trustworthy public radio reporting, Andrew has been a key figure in Northeast Ohio's news landscape, covering Akron, Cleveland, and Canton. Previously, he was WKSU’s News Director from 2014, focusing on a 22-county broadcast area. Before WKSU, Andrew spent 16 years at WBGO-FM in Newark, New Jersey, rising from reporter and news anchor to Assistant News Director. His career spans three decades, earning him top regional and national awards, including a prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award in 2022. A regular panelist on "Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable," he also hosts and fills in for several NPR programs. 


Cheryl Powell
Executive Editor, Akron Beacon Journal/Beaconjournal.com

As Executive Editor, Cheryl Powell also oversees the Beacon Journal’s website and serves as regional editor for four additional USA TODAY Network Ohio newsrooms: The Canton Repository, the Ravenna Record-Courier, Alliance Review and Massillon Independent. Powell, who celebrated her 27th anniversary at the Beacon Journal in March, most recently served as managing editor. She began her career working as a correspondent for her hometown paper, the Twinsburg Bulletin, while in high school. She earned a journalism degree from Kent State University and spent two years as a reporter for the Lexington (Kentucky) Herald-Leader. She returned home to the Akron area in 1997 to work as community reporter for the Beacon Journal before serving as the paper's medical writer for 15 years.


Susan Kirkman Zake
Editor-in-Chief, Signalakron.org

Susan Kirkman Zake is the Editor-in-Chief of Signal Akron, an independent, nonprofit newsroom launched in December 2023 as part of the Signal Ohio network. Prior to this role, Zake was a professor at Kent State University's School of Media and Journalism, where she taught capstone reporting classes in Solutions Journalism and data skills. She also served as the newsroom adviser to the school’s award-winning student media and founded the Collaborative News Lab @ Kent State in 2020 to connect student reporters with professional partners. Zake's career at the Akron Beacon Journal began in 1986 as a staff photographer. Over 20 years, she advanced to roles including managing editor for multimedia and special projects. Her work has earned her numerous awards, including three Pulitzer Prizes for team coverage. Recognized as a Tow-Knight Disruptive Journalism Educator in 2017, she also curated the photographs for "May 4, 1970: The Kent State Story in Pictures."

For any questions or further information, please contact us at akronpressclub@gmail.com.